Man shot outside South Bend store dies

Family believes Anwar Davis was trying to break up fight.

Family believes Anwar Davis was trying to break up fight.

June 19, 2006|ERIN MILLER Tribune Staff Writer

SOUTH BEND -- A 28-year-old South Bend man is dead after a shooting early Sunday morning outside a convenience store. St. Joseph County Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Frank Schaffer confirmed Sunday evening that the man, whom relatives identified as Anwar "Anwon" Davis, died of injuries he suffered at about 4:20 a.m. outside Always Open, 1401 N. Bendix Drive. Store owner Papu Singh, who spoke by telephone with WSBT-TV Sunday afternoon, said police told him a large crowd of people was gathered outside the gas station. People in the crowd were drinking, then a fight broke out and shots were fired, Singh said police told him. The store was closed at the time of the shooting, but customers could purchase gasoline if they paid with a credit card at the pump. A surveillance video from the time of the shooting showed at least four vehicles at the gas pumps, other vehicles parked in front of the store and people walking around the parking lot. At one point, the people in the video seemed to react to a noise in the area where the shooting allegedly happened. Then the people ran to their cars and drove away. A few minutes later, South Bend police cars arrived at the scene. According to a South Bend Police Department report, witnesses said at least 25 cars were in the parking lot prior to the shooting. Family members told WSBT-TV they believe Davis was trying to break up a fight when he was shot in the head. Nola Davis, sister of the victim's mother, said the family gathered at Memorial Hospital, where Anwar Davis was taken for treatment. He died between 6 and 8 a.m., his aunt said. "They brought the chaplain out and just told us one by one we could see him, but it didn't look good from there," Nola Davis said. Nola Davis said Anwar Davis planned to celebrate Father's Day with his 10-year-old daughter. Convenience store clerks around the city said Sunday night that they weren't taking extra precautions after the shooting, and some clerks first learned about the shooting when contacted by The Tribune. "The only difference we would actually do is pay more attention," said Joe Sauers, who works at the 7-Eleven at 4106 Lincoln Way West. "It's all these kids. They've got no respect for life." South Bend gas stations generally close for about two hours in the early morning hours on Saturdays and Sundays, about the same time that area bars and clubs close, Sauers and other convenience store clerks said. The St. Joseph County Metro Homicide Unit is investigating the shooting. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact the Metro Homicide Unit at 235-5009 or call Crime Stoppers at 288-STOP. Staff writer Erin Miller: emiller@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6553